Can end



July 7, 1931. r c. D. MCDONALD ETAL 1,313,810

I CAN END Filed Dec. 24, 1928 5 5 a/w zwzjwmzi Patented July 7, 1931 UNi'ran STATES PATENT; OFFICE" CHARLES I). MCDONALD AND BER-'1 A. DEISCH, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR-S TO MCDONALD MACHINE 00., OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS CAN END Application filed November 24, 1928. Serial No. 321,539.

This invention relates to can ends, and its principal object is to provide self-contained means for spacing can ends apart when stacked. The invention has reference more particularly to rectangular or straight sided can ends formed with the usual curled lip or rim adapted for a seaming connection with the end of the can body.

Another object is to provide spacing means for can ends which will not interfere with the operation of the seaming rolls used in seaming together the body and end. Another object is to provide in a can end self-contained means for spacing apart stacked can ends whereby a free circulation of air may be had between the stacked can ends, and whereby the can ends may be prevented from nesting together so as to interfere with the automatic feeding of the can ends into machinery for subsequent operations.

lVith these and other objects and advantages in view, this invention consists in a can end having a plurality of spaced indentations in certain of the straight portions of the down-turned lips thereof, the indentations being arranged to rest upon another can end to thereby space the two apart. If further consists in the several novel features hereinafter fully set forth and claimed.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the drawings accompanying this specification in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a stack of can ends embodying a simple form of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a view looking from below of one of the can ends; and

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail vertical cross section through a stack of the can ends, partly broken away.

Referring to said drawings, the reference characters 5 designate several can ends arranged in a stack. The can ends illustrated are oblong having straight sides and ends joined by curved corners. The usual downturned lip 6 is formed on the marginal edge of the can ends, and the middle of the can end is depressed and formed with the usual bead arrangement, as is clearly illustrated at 50 7 in Fig. 3.

In certain can constructions, the under face 8 of the groove between the lip and head is coated with a rubber, or other sealing composition, and in. order that the composition may thoroughly dry before the can ends are 5 seamed to the can bodies, it is highly desirable that the can ends be separated from each other when stacked so as to permit a free circulation of air between them. Ordinarily, when can ends of this type are stacked, they nest together, thereby preventing a free circulation of air between them, and also hindering the automatic mechanism for feeding them into machinery for subsequent operations.

In accordance with the present invention, we form a series of spaced indentations 9 in the lips of the long side edges 10 by forcing the metal inwards slightly at the indented places when passing the can ends through the curling rolls. At the places where the lips are indented, the metal is projected inwardly far enough to rest upon the fiat upper face of an adjacent can end therebelow, as is clearly illustrated in Fig. 3, thereby preventing each can end from nesting into the one therebelow, and, at the same time, maintaining the lower edge of the lip away from the upper edge portion of the can end below it. It will be seen from an inspection of Fig. 3 that the can ends 30 are spaced apart so as to prevent nesting of one into the other and so as to provide a crevice or gap between the edge portions of the adjacent can ends through which air may pass freely between the can ends.

We are aware that several attempts have been made to provide means for spacing stacked can ends apart, but serious difiicul-- ties have been encountered with such means, because they interfere with the seaming operations in seaming the can end to a can body.

It has been found with the usual methods of spacing the can ends apart that leaks develop at the places where the lips were provided with the means for spacing stacked can ends.

We have discovered that by forming a number of small indentations in the lips of the long sides of the can ends, not only are they properly spaced apart when stacked, but the 2 ,4 is r 1,813,816

indentations do not interfere with the operation of the seaming rolls and absolutely leakproof joints are obtained between the can ends and can bodies. Furthermore, with the 5 can ends properly spaced apart when stacked, no difficulty is occasioned with the feeding apparatus for feeding the can ends one at a time into machinery for subsequent operations. We claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

A metal can end having a central depression with a horizontal flange and a depending lip at the outer edge thereof forming therebetween a channel for sealing material, said lip being of uniform depth throughout its peripheral edge and having a series of spaced inwardly bent portions adjacent its edge forming a support for the can ends when nested one on the other.

CHARLES D. McDONALD. B. A. DEISCH. 

